Les Binks, the Northern Irish drummer best known for his stint with Judas Priest from 1977 to 1979, has sadly passed away at the age of seventy three. No cause of death has been announced. His former bandmates broke the news by posting a statement on their social media pages, which reads as follows: "We are deeply saddened about the passing of Les Binks and send our love to his family, friends and fans. "The acclaimed drumming he provided was first class - demonstrating his unique techniques, flair and precision. "Thank you Les. Your acclaim will live on." Binks began his career in 1973, being heard by rock fans on Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover's solo album, "The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast," before scoring two hits in America as a member of Fancy, including a rendition of "Wild Thing" which saw his drumming sampled numerous times. He would join Judas Priest shortly after they finished recording "Sin After Sin," produced by his former bandmate Roger Glover and in 1978, recording two studio albums with the band; "Stained Class," which featured "Beyond The Realms Of Death," a song he co-wrote, and "Killing Machine" (renamed "Hell Bent For Leather" in the United States.) He would also feature on "Unleashed In The East," a live album which entered the top ten in the British album charts and has gone on to become one of the most revered live albums in metal history. He left the band in 1979 and would have stints with Lionheart and Tytan, among many others.
